Composite structural pillar and rafter beams with nailing strips



Apnfi 11, 1967 H. ELOFSON 3,313,070

COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL PILLAR AND RAFTER BEAMS WITH NAILING STRIPS Filed Sept. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

III 4 1N VENTOR 52 V gar/y E/afson BY M.)-%W, i

ATTORNEY Apnl 11, 1967 H. ELOFSON 3,

COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL PILLAR AND RAFTEH BEAMS WITH NAILING STRIPS Filed Sept. 30, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR Harry f/ofson ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,313,070 COMPOSITE STRUCTURAL PILLAR AND RAFTER BEAMS WITH NAILING STRIPS Harry Elofson, 1200 Douglas Drive, Minneapolis, Minn. 55422 Filed Sept. 30, I964, Ser. No. 400,348 7 Claims. (Cl. 52-93) This invention relates generally to construction elements for use in forming the framework of a building structure, and more particularly to a composite structural beam that may be used as a wall column or pillar, roof rafter, floor beam or joist, header or similar unit used in building construction.

The invention is particularly adapted for making pillarrafter spans which may be spaced eight feet or more apart and connected by purlins and brace members to provide a one story building framework to which the roof and ceiling coverings and the inner and outer wall coverings may be nailed.

The invention contemplates a beam-like composite metal and wood building unit which may be made of any length and of various widths and thickness so that it may be used in place of a corresponding sized all wood beam, and which has a central or core portion composed of two heavy gauge metal members to serve as the load sustaining portion of the beam, such members being space-d and connected by light gauge sheet metal members of U shape in cross section containing wood furring strips to which wall, roof and ceiling coverings may be secured by nails or screws, the central or core portion of the beam having on opposite sides channels to adjustably receive fastening members at the ends of purlins or brace members that space and connect two opposed parallel beams in a roof or wall.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a composite building unit or structural element of the character above indicated which is of simple, strong and rigid construction, and at the same time light in weight and relatively inexpensive, and which will permit of the erection of the frame of a building with speed by unskilled labor and at a relatively low cost since few holes will have to be drilled on the job and very little welding will be necessary.

Another object is to provide a composite beam of this character in which the core member is composed of two channel metal beams of generally C shape in cross section which have fiat central or web portions and angular opposed side portions to provide the fastener receiving channels and to which the U-shaped members are fastened so that the web portions of the C-shaped beams and the U-shaped members form in the composite beam an axial passageway adapted to receive a solid metal bar to serve as a reenforcement for a connected end of the improved beam or as a connector between the abutted ends of two alined beams when a very long beam is required.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides in the novel combinations and arrangements of parts and the novel features of construction hereinafter described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show the present preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my new construction element;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a brace member or purlin to be used with the construction element;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fastening member used to connect the purlin or brace to the element;

FIG. 4 is a vertical section through a portion of a building wall and roof constructed in accordance with the invention, parts being broken away;

FIG. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on line 5-5 in FIG. 4, on an enlarged scale, and showing an end of one of the brace or purlin members secured to the beam-like construction element; the interior and exterior coverings for the wall or roof being omitted;

FIG. 6 is a detail top view of an outer end portion of the rafter element shown in FIG. 4, with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a pillarrafter roof span composed of four of the construction elements showing in dash lines the two pivoted rafter ele ments before they are swung upwardly and joined in their angularly relation positions to form the roof span; and

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of a building frame constructed in accordance with the invention.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the numeral 15 denotes as a whole, the new beam-like construction element comprising a generally rectangular body formed by two opposed parallel laterally spaced channel metal members 16 of C shape in cross section made of a heavy guage metal and two opposed parallel members 17 of a lighter guage sheet metal which connect and space the members 16. Each of the members 16 has a fiat central or web portion 18, and right angularly bent parallel edge portions 19 from which project right angularly bent opposed flanges 20 so that the member has a longitudinally extending channel 21 with a restricted opening or slot 22 on its side opposite the web portion. The connecting members 17 are U shaped in cross section, each having a flat connecting or web portion 23 and flat parallel side flanges 24. While the members 17 may be disposed between the webs 18 of the members 16, they are preferably arranged as shown in FIG. 5 with their web portions in contact with the edge flanges 19 of'the members 16, and they may be fastened by welds 25 so that an axial passageway 26 of rectangular shape in cross section is formed through the element 15. The channels in the members 17 are filled with wood furring or the like 27 to serve as nailing strips and suitably spaced nails 28 may be used to fasten the strips.

When the construction elements 15 are used in a wall or in a roof, they are disposed in suitably spaced parallel relation with the channels 21 of adjoining elements in oppose-d relation so that by means of fasteners in the channels the pillar elements in the wall and the rafter elements in the roof may be connected to form the building frame. When the elements are so disposed the interior and exterior wall covering 29 may be nailed to the strips 27 of the pillar element and the roof and ceiling coverings may be similarly nailed to the strips of the rafter elements, as will be understood on reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.

The elements 15 may be made in various sizes to serve the function of wood beams ranging in size from 2" x 4 to 2" x 12" lumber. When the element is to be used in the manner of a 2 x 8" wood beam, the C-shaped members 16 may be made of 12 gauge metal about 4% wide and spaced apart. The U-shaped members 17 may be made of sheet metal /s" thick and of a size to hold 1%" square furring strip. Such an element will be about 2" thick and about 7%" wide. The width of the element and thickness of the metal parts will vary proportionately in smaller and larger beams.

In FIG. 4, I have shown the manner in which a purlin in a roof or a connecting brace member in a wall may be adjustably connected to one of the construction elements 15. The purlin or brace 30 may be made of metal or wood and at each end it has a right angularly projecting flange 31 adapted to contact with the outer faces of the flanges of one of the members 16. If the member is a metal plate, the flanges 31 may be formed by bending its ends at right angles. If it is made of wood, the flanges may be formed by angle metal strips 32 fastened by bolts 33 across the connecting member 30 at the ends. At the center of each flange 31 is an opening 34 for the screw threaded body 35 of a bolt with a flat rectangular head 36 that is slidable in the channel 21 of one of the members 16, the bolt projecting through the opening or slot 22 and carrying a clamping nut 37. The width of the purlins or connecting brace members 34) is preferably the same as the width of the element 15, and when they are made of wood, their edges will be disposed in the planes of the outer faces of the wood furring strips 27 so that in both the wall and the roof the exterior and interior sheets or other coverings 29 may be nailed to their edges. However since the end flanges 31 on these element-connecting members 30 may pivot on the clamping bolts 35, the members 30 may be disposed in various angular positions rather than perpendicular to the coverings 29.

Depending upon the purpose or intended use of the building, the construction elements 15 may be spaced any distance apart in both the wall and roof butusually they will be spaced from 8" to 16 apart. In the roof the purlin members 30 may be at any spacing but usually 16" to 24" apart. In the walls the horizontal connecting members 30 may be similarly spaced apart vertically and they may be arranged to provide for the framing of window and door openings. made of wood and extra strength is required, triangular metal reenforcing plates may be secured to one or both faces of the member by screws or other fastenings.

While a single construction element may be supported horizontally on the tops of two upright wall elements for a building with a flat roof, I have shown conventionally in FIG. 7 a V-shaped roof span consisting of two of the elements 15 used as rafters supported on the tops of two used as wall pillars; and in order to facilitate the erection of the span, the outer ends of the rafter elements are pivotally connected to the upper ends of the pillar elements. The lower end of the upright pillar elements have metal plates 40 welded to their C-shaped channels 16 and apertured to receive anchor bolts 41 set in a concrete footing or floor 42. The upper ends of the pillar elements will be cut at the proper angle and have welded to the channels 16 apertured plates 43 adapted to be engaged by similar plates 44 welded to the channels 16 at the outer ends of the rafter elements, the outer ends of the lower U-shaped members 17 being removed as shown in FIG. 4. They plates 43 and 44 are of greater width than the thickness of the element 15, as seen in FIG. 6, so that the abutted plates may be fastened together by bolts 45. The inner ends of the two angularly related rafter elements are cut at the proper angle and to their channels 16 are welded apertured plates 46 connected by bolts 47 as seen in FIG. 7.

The above mentioned pivotal connection between the rafter and pillar elements may consist of a spaced pair of tubular hinge or pivot eyes 48 welded at 49 to the edge of the projecting portion of plate 44 and a single hinge or pivot eye 50 similarly Welded at the center of the edge of the other plate 43, the three eyes being in alinement and receiving a pivot pin 51. This pivotal connection not only provides a stronger connection between the rafter and the pillar elements but it greatly facilitates the erection of the span since, after the rafter elements have been pivoted to the pillar elements, the latter may be raised to a vertical position and their lower ends bolted to the concrete base with the two rafter elements in the dash line position shown in FIG. 7. The two rafter elements may then be swung upwardly beyond the full line position in FIG. 7, and then lowered so that the abutted plates 4!? may be fastened by the bolts 47.

When the members 30 are The above described connection between the rafter and pillar elements 15 may be further strengthened by welding, bolting or otherwise fastening rectangular reenforcing bars of any desired length in the channels 21 of the C-shaped members 16. As shown in FIG. 6 one of these reenforcing bars 52 is disposed on the outer end portion of the rafter element. Such a bar may be used to join the abutted ends of two of the elements 15 when it is desired to have an extra long construction element.

While the elements 15 may be used in various other ways, they are particularly used in making the frames of small houses, stores, garages, cattle sheds and buildings for the storage of grain, farm machinery, etc.

From the foregoing, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that novel and advantageous provision has been made for carrying out the objects of the invention, and while preferences have been disclosed, attention is invited to the possibility of making variations within the scope of the invention as claimed.

' I claim:

1. In a beam-like construction element of the character described, the combination of,

(A) a pair of elongated heavy gauge metal members of substantially C shape in cross section disposed in opposed and spaced relation to form the load-carrying portion of the beam, each of said members having (a) a flat web portion with (b) opposed edge flanges of angular shape in cross section to provide a longitudinal channel with a restricted opening that opens along one side of the member,

'(c) said flat web portions of the two members being disposed in opposed parallel relation and spaced from each other to give the load bearing portion of the beam a substantially rectangular shape,

(B) a pair of lighter gauge channel metal members of U shape in cross section connecting said C-shaped members, said U-shaped members being substantially coextensive in length with said C-shaped members and having flat web portions with opposed substantially parallel side flanges,

(C) said U-shaped members having portions disposed in contact with portions of said C-shaped members along the opposite edge portions of the latter and being welded thereto to hold said C-shaped members in spaced relation and provide an axial passageway through the load-carrying portion of the beam, and

(D) nailing strips substantially filling the channels of said U-shaped members.

2. The construction element of claim 1 in which said edge flanges of the C-shaped members are of right angular shape in cross section and in which said web portions of the U-shaped members are in contact with and welded to the outer faces of said right angular flanges of the opposed C-shaped members, whereby the flat web portions of the four members from said axial passage-way, the latter being adapted to receive a metal reenforcing bar of rectangular shape in cross section.

3. In a wall or roof structure for a building, the combination of (A) a plurality of parallel, laterally spaced, composite beam-like structural elements, each comprising (a) two opposed heavy gauge metal members of C shape in cross section and each having a flat web portion with right angular edge flanges to provide a channel with a restricted opening on the side of the member opposite the web portion,

(b) two opposed light gauge sheet metal channel members of U shape in cross section and each having a flat web portion .and parallel edge flanges,

(c) The U-shaped members being substantially coextensive in length with said C-shaped members and being welded to said C-shaped members along the edge flanges of the latter to fix them with their web portions in spaced relation and provide an axial passageway through the said beam-like element, and

(d) nailing strips substantially filling each of said U-shaped members,

(B) the adjoining spaced parallel elements being disposed with the openings of their channels in opposed relation and with their nailing strips facing in opposite directions,

(C) a plurality of laterally spaced connecting members between each pair of adjoining elements, said connecting members having at their ends right angularly projecting apertured flanges engaged with the outer faces of said angular edge flanges of the opposed C-shaped members of adjoining elements with said apertures alined with said openings,

(D) T-bolts adjustably connecting said flanges of the connecting members to the associated flanges of the C-shaped members of adjoining elements, said bolts having enlarged flat heads movable in the associated channels and screw threaded bodies projecting through the associated openings and through the apertures in the associated flanges with nuts on the threaded bodies engaged with the associated flanges of the connecting members,

(E) whereby interior and exterior coverings may be engaged with the nailing strips of the several elements and secured thereto by nails or other fastenings.

4. In a wall and roof span for a building structure, the

combination of (A) two laterally-opposed upright wall pillars connected by (B) two angularly related rafters forming the roof span,

(C) each of said pillars and rafters being a beam-like construction element comprising,

(a) two opposed heavy gauge metal members of C shape in cross section and each having a flat web portion with right angular edge flanges to provide a channel with a restricted opening on the side of the member opposite the web portion, the channels being adapted to receive fasteners for the connection of braces,

(b) two opposed light gauge sheet metal channel members of U shape in cross section and each having a flat web portion and parallel edge flanges,

(c) the U-shaped members being substantially coextensive in length with said C-shaped members and being welded to said C-shaped members along the edge flanges of the latter to fix them with their web portions in spaced relation and 55 provide an axial passageway through said beamlike element, and

(d) nailing strips substantially filling each of said U-shaped members for the attachment thereto of interior and exterior wall and roof coverings,

(D) apertured contacting metal plates welded to the adjoining ends of said elements forming the two rafters and bolts in the apertures of said plates to fix the rafters in their an'gularly related positions, and

(E) means fastening the outer ends of said two rafters to the upper ends of said two pillars, each of said means comprising a pair of apertured contacting metal plates and bolts in the apertures of the latter, one plate of each pair being welded to the top of the element forming one of said pillars and the other plate being welded to the outer end of the element forming the associated rafter.

5. The combination of claim 4 together with a solid metal reenforcing bar in the outer end portion the said passageway of each of said two rafters, said bars being disposed in contact with the web portions of the said C- shaped and U-shaped members of the elements forming said rafters.

6. The combination of claim 4 together with additional means for fastening the outer ends of said two rafters to said two pillars, each of said additional means comprising at least a pair of axially alined pivot eyes and a pivot pin extending through the alined eyes to provide a pivotal connection, one of said eyes being fixed to one of said pair of plates and the other alined eye being fixed to the other plate of the pair.

7. In a beam-like construction element of the character described, the combination of (A) a pair of elongated heavy gauge metal members of substantially C shape in cross section having flat web portions and angular flanges at the edges of the latter to provide a longitudinal channel in the member with a restricted opening on its side opposite its Web portion,

(B) a pair of lighter gauge metal members of U shape in cross section having flat web portions and parallel edge flanges,

(C) nailing strips substantially filling the channels of said U-shaped members,

(D) said U-shaped members being substantially coextensive in length with said C-shaped members and being disposed along the edge portions of said C- shaped members, and

(E) means fixing said U-shaped members to said C shaped members to hold the latter in opposed and spaced relation to provide an axial passageway through the element formed by the web portions of all of said members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 385,624 7/1888 Hodges 52-376 742,549 10/1903 Zeh 52-731 1,959,880 5/1934 Sims 52-376 2,182,015 12/1939 Davis 52-376 FRANK L. ABBOTT, Primary Examiner.

J. E. MURTAGH, Assistant Examiner. 

4. IN A WALL AND ROOF SPAN FOR A BUILDING STRUCTURE, THE COMBINATION OF (A) TWO LATERALLY-OPPOSED UPRIGHT WALL PILLARS CONNECTED BY (B) TWO ANGULARLY RELATED RAFTERS FORMING THE ROOF SPAN, (C) EACH OF SAID PILLARS AND RAFTERS BEING A BEAM-LIKE CONSTRUCTION ELEMENT COMPRISING, (A) TWO OPPOSED HEAVY GAUGE METAL MEMBERS OF C SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION AND EACH HAVING A FLAT WEB PORTION WITH RIGHT ANGULAR EDGE FLANGES TO PROVIDE A CHANNEL WITH A RESTRICTED OPENING ON THE SIDE OF THE MEMBER OPPOSITE THE WEB PORTION, THE CHANNELS BEING ADAPTED TO RECEIVE FASTENERS FOR CONNECTION OF BRACES, (B) TWO OPPOSED LIGHT GAUGE SHEET METAL CHANNEL MEMBERS OF U SHAPE IN CROSS SECTION AND EACH HAVING A FLAT WEB PORTION AND PARALLEL EDGE FLANGES, (C) THE U-SHAPED MEMBERS BEING SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENSIVE IN LENGTH WITH SAID C-SHAPED MEMBERS AND BEING WELDED TO SAID C-SHAPED MEMBERS ALONG THE EDGE FLANGES OF THE LATTER TO FIX THEM WITH THEIR WEB PORTIONS IN SPACED RELATION AND PROVIDE AN AXIAL PASSAGEWAY THROUGH SAID BEAMLIKE ELEMENT, AND (D) NAILING STRIPS SUBSTANTIALLY FILLING EACH OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBERS FOR THE ATTACHMENT THERETO OF INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR WALL AND ROOF COVERINGS, (D) APERTURED CONTACTING METAL PLATES WELDED TO THE ADJOINING ENDS OF SAID ELEMENTS FORMING THE TWO RAFTERS AND BOLTS IN THE APERTURES OF SAID PLATES TO FIX THE RAFTERS IN THEIR ANGULARLY RELATED POSITIONS, AND (E) MEANS FASTENING THE OUTER ENDS OF SAID TWO RAFTERS TO THE UPPER ENDS OF SAID TWO PILLARS, EACH OF SAID MEANS COMPRISING A PAIR OF APERTURED CONTACTING METAL PLATES AND BOLTS IN THE APERTURS OF THE LATTER, ONE PLATE OF EACH PAIR BEING WELDED TO THE TOP OF THE ELEMENT FORMING ONE OF SAID PILLARS AND THE OTHER PLATE BEING WELDED TO THE OUTER END OF THE ELEMENT FORMING THE ASSOCIATED RAFTER. 